Mail-delivery apparatus.



G. W. FARTHING MAIL DELIVERY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.26.1916.

1,249,055. Patented Dec. 4,1917.

, INVENTOR Gemye W'FarfiM GEORGE W. FARTHING, 0F DRY FORK, VIRGINIA.

MAIL-DELIVERY APPARATUS.

l Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 41, 11917..

Application filed April 26, 1916. Serial No. 93,667.

mail between moving train and station, the

apparatus being so constructed as to make the exchange with the least danger of damage to the mail pouches or their contents.

A further object of the invention contemplates the provision of an apparatus, which in effecting the exchange of the mail pouches, makes provision for suspending them so that they may swing in the air until the motion imparted to them by the impact incident to the exchange, has been spent, whereby therisk of damage to the mail is reduced to a minimum. A still. further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the class designated, in which the stationary member of 'theapparatus is designed to swing under the impact of the deposited mail sack so as to ease up the force of the blow experienced by the sack at the time of exchange.

A still further object of my invention contemplates the provisionof an improved mail exchange apparatus in which the parts are reduced to a minimum, resulting in extreme simplicity and durability, and one which is extremely eiiicient in operation, inexpensive to manufacture and install, and in which there is small likelihood of the parts getting out of order.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures, ofwhich Figure 1 represents a view in perspective of .a mail exchange in accordance with my invention, showing the same in operation. V Fig. 2 represents a view in section taken horizontally along the mail coach of a train,

apparatus constructed showing a top plan View of a train carried member of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 represents a similar view showing the train carried apparatus as turned into the car.

Fig. 4 represents aview of the receiving arm of the member.

Fig. 5 represents a view in perspective of the mail sack supporting arm thereof.

F g. 6 represents a view in section taken vertically and transversely on the plane indicated by the line 6-6 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 7 represents a view in perspective tram carried generally efiecting the upper surface of the plate and retaining the latter in frictional engagement with the crown of the standard.

Pivotally plate 7 and means of mounting the rod may be employed. The outer end of the bowed or doubled upon itself to form asubstantially U-shaped tongue 16, the side members 17 of which extend in spaced and parallel relation with each other.. The tongue 16 extends in an opposite direction from an in which the arm 12 at the inner end of the rod projects. Beyond the tongue 16 the outer end of the rod is turned at right angles to form an arm 18, which extends in an opposite direetion to the tongue 16, the extreme end of the arm 18 being returned as at 19. Between the tongue 16 and the outer portionof the arm 18, an ofi'set or bend 20 is made in the rod, which bend presents a shoulder 21 at the base of the tongue 16 and in relation therewith, substantially similar to the relation which the shoulder 22, formed at the base or thetongue at the point where it merges with the main portion of the rod 11, bears to the tongue.

The tongue is designed for the reception of one of the mail sack supporting rings 23.. These rings are substantially heart shaped and are strongly secured at their lower portions to straps 24, which are adapted to be drawn about the mail sacks securely attaching them to the rings. ring-fits snugly upon the tongue '16 in the manner indicated in the drawing, the bowed orl inturned portion 25 of the ring fitting between the side members 17 of the tongue, for retaining the ring against twisting movement upon the tongue, which 'a strong wind might have a tendency to create. In order to prevent the accidental displacement of the ringfrom the tongue, a leaf spring 26 is provided, which at its inner end is suitably secured to the bowed portion 20. ofth e arm, and adjacent its other end overlies theangle formedat the shoulder 21, and bearing slightly against the adjacent side portion 17 of the tongue, is at its outer end, slightly outturned as at 27 to allow of the ring being readily placed upon the tongue by the station master.

The train carried member of the apparatus is made from a single rod, and includes a receiving arm 28 and a supporting arm 29. connected by upper arm of which is pivotally mounted longitudinally of the mail coach on the inside thereof as indicated at 31. The arm 28 is offset outwardly from the U-shaped portion 30, as is also the supporting arm 29. The latter at its outer end, is formed into. a supporting tongue 32, similar in shape to the tongue 16, which supporting tongue82 is arranged above and at the rear of the receiving arm 28 of the train carried section of the apparatus. The tongue 32 is formed "by bending the outer portion of the arm 29. downwardly and then bowing it around in a horizontal plane, and then bending it upwardly and returning it in parallel relation with the arm, and finally over-bending the extremity as indicated in the drawing. The tongue 32 is adapted to support one of the mail sack carrying rings 23-, "in, the manner already described, with a U-shaped portion SOfthe respect to the tongue 16. The arm 28 is provided with a downwardly ofiset or bent portion 33, which portion defines a shoulder 34 at its rear end,and gradually inclines upwardly from the shoulder to the outer portion of the arm. The free end of the arm 28 is returned upon itself as at 35, and is bent slightly upwardly as at 36, whereby to form a prong or tongue adapted to prevent the displacement of the nail' bag supporting ring fromthe arin 28, after said ringhas been engaged thereon in a manner to be described.

When the train carried section of the device is out of operation, 'it may be swung inwardly until 'the arm 28 is arranged entirely within the car, whereupon the door 37 of the car may be closed as indicated in- T igf3, a suitable recess being provided either in the car door or in the door frame Torre/061171119; a portion of the device which project's-witl out the car, as indicated at 38. \Vhe'n the device is in operative position, however, the arm is swung outwardly as indicated in Fig. 1, and a'suitable latch 39 carried on the inside of the car is turned to engage the 'U-shaped portion 30 for retaining the device inoperative position.-

The stationary member A and the train carried member B of'the apparatus, are so positioned relatively to each other, that as the 'train carried section passes the stationary section, the arm 18 of the latter lies be tween the arm and tongue of the former, and in position a, project through. the ring 23 'sii-pportedby said. tongue '32. Thearm'28 of "the train carried portion of the device, extends in position to pass through the ring 23 supported by thiatorigiie 16 ot' the stationary member. It 'will thus be seen as the train passes, an" exchange of the m'a'il pouches will be secured, the pouch carried by the moving section or the apparatus being deposited the arm 18,;otthe on stationary member, and the sack carried by the tongue of the'stationary member will be deposited on the "arm 28 or the moving mei nber. I

I The "offset portion 33 of arm 28, provides means for supporting the ring whichthis arm engagesas the exchange takes place, thereby preventing its displacement from the arm. As the bagis "caught by the arm 28, it is allowedto swing nee in the air until the motion imparted the impact has been spent. Prong '36 of the arm 88 will prevent the sack frombeing thrown ofithe arm 38 reason'olfthe rebound which takes place as the bag is caught. The spring 26'provided onthe stationary member ofthe' apparatus, will not interfere with the ready detachment of the ring 23 from the apparatus by the arm-of the train carried member. A spring 39, which has the same functions as the spring 26, is carried by the tongue 32 ot the train 'occupled, as

supported section of the apparatus, and while preventing accidential displacement of the ring 23 therefrom, allows ready detachment of it by action of thearm 18 in engaging the ring as the exchange of mail pouches ta es place.

The plate 7 is actuated provided with a spring detent 40 which, when the'device is in the position indicated in Fig. 1, engages an indentation 41 provided in the crown 6 of standard 5. The detent thus retains the plate against accidental rotary movement, plate incipouch, the

' enough to shift the detent out of the indentation and to swing the plate around, thus easing the force of the blow. Vhen not in operation the plate may be moved to a position parallel with the track, so that the device carried by the plate will be out of the way. The receiving arm of the stationary apparatus while being long enough to readily engage the ring of the supported portion of the apparatus, is short enough to p'event its engagement withthe side of the train as the plate .7 swings around. It is my intention to have the stationary and of suitable heavy metal to withstand the device is made, tapers from its central portion toward its ends as indicated in the drawing. The rod from which the stationary portion is formed is similarly tapered toward its outer end.

The train carried member of the apparatus, may, when not in use, he swung, if desired, upwardly within the ear to assume an upside down position, and will then be positioned near the roof of the car where it will be out of the way.

he mail car with having been turned around on its return trip, may, as'it passes the stationary apparatus be in position to effectuate the interchanging of the mail pouches. To this end the rod 11 carried by the stationary men1- ber, may rotate to a position opposite that shown in the drawing, the arm 12 e1 ng engaged by the opposite hook or a friction retained I claim:

1. A mail delivery apparatus including a stationary member comprising a standard, plate revolubly mounted hereon, means for restraining the plate against accidental movement, a rod pivotally mounted longitudinally of the plate and having a laterally ofl's'et end portion, means carried by the plate for engaging the end portion when the rod is in one position or another for retaining the rod against rotation, said rod being bent to form an arm at its outer end for receiving mail bag supporting rings, said arm extending approximately at right angles to the rod to form a substantially U-sha-ped tongue extending in an opposite direction to the arm for supporting a mail bag supporting ring, an offset portion formed in the receiving arm for preventing loss of mail pouches therefrom, and a spring for preventing accidental removal of the mail bag supporting ring from said tongue, said spring allowing ready placement of the ring on the tongue.

2. A mail .deliverv apparatus including atrain carried member comprising a rod bent to a substantially U shape having its bowed portion arranged within a car and further having one of its legs pivotally mounted within the car, said rod being offset beyond supporting arm a receiving arm supporting arm and adapted to receive a bag supporting ring, said receiving arm having an ofiset therein to retain the ring and having its outer end provided with a returned prong to prevent displacement of the ring from the arm, a tongue carried by the supporting arm extend receiving arm and adapted supporting ring, and means for preventing accidental removal of the ring from the tongue, said means allowing ready placement of the ring on the tongue.

3. A mail delivery apparatus, including a stationary member comprising a horizontally arranged plate, means by which the plate is rotatably mounted upon a vertical extending in an oppohe arm for supporting a mail bag supporting ring, means whereby the rod may be rotated on its axis at will for reversing the directions in thereof, the U-shaped portion having one end offset beyond the car to form an arm for receiving a mail bag supporting ring and having its other end offset beyond the car above the said arm and provided with means for supporting a mail bag supporting rin 5. In apparatus of the character specified, a longitudinal member, a substantially U- shaped tongue at one end of the longitudinal member and an arm projecting in an opposite direction to the tongue and forming an extension of the outer member thereof, there being an offset or shoulder between the tongue and arm about in line with the longitudinal member, said tongue and arm being disposed at a right angle to the longitudinal member and projecting beyond opposite sides thereof.

6. A mail bag delivery apparatus, including a standard, a plate rotatably mounted thereon and frictionally retained against accidental displacement, a horizontally extending rod mounted for rotation about its axis on the plate and provided with an arm for receiving a mail bag supporting ring, and with a tongue extending in an opposite direction to the arm for supporting a mail bag supporting ring, said rod adapted to be turned at will for reversing the position of the arm and tongue.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by adoress'iiiig, the

Washington, 1). Cl

7 A maildeliver'y apparatus, including a substantially U-Shaped supporting tongue, a heart-shaped ring having a reentrant portion, and having ncansfor supporting a mail bag, said ring straddling the, tongue with the reentrant portion arranged between the arms of the tongue, wherebythe ring will be supported against twisting movement "relatively to the tongue, and means for preventing accidental removal 0 the ring from the tongue. U

8. In apparatus of the character specified, a support, a horizontal member rotatable on the support about a vertical axis,iyieldable means between the support and horizontal member to normally hold the latter in an adjusted position and resist rotation thereof, a longitudinal member reversibly mounted upon the horizontal member and having a lateral arm at its inner end and an oppositely extending tongue and arm at its outer end with a shoulder between the arm and tongue, retaining means mounted upon the horizontal member to engage the inner arm of the reversible in mber to hold it in the required position, and retaining means at the outer end of the reversible member cooperating with the tongue to prevent dis placement therefrom of the mail supporting element. a a v V GEORGE W. FARTHING.

Commissioner of Patents. 

